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22 best moisturisers that instantly hydrate dry skin, tried and tested
And, we quiz experts on EYNTK about treating dry skin
Finding the best moisturiser for dry skin is no easy feat. As a beauty writer – and someone who suffers from dry skin – it’s a category I have spent years testing in search of the very best formulas. Especially as the humble moisturiser is the bookend to your skincare routine, it's important to find the right one.
The best moisturisers for dry skin
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Best moisturiser with ceramides
The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturiser
Read review - 4
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Figuring out which is the best moisturiser for you can be a tricky task, considering the shelves are crowded with hundreds of different options – literally. When you have chronically thirsty skin, it’s important to find a formula that will work in the short-term (i.e., deliver instant relief) but will work in the long term to prevent further dehydration.
The good news? I have spent many hours testing the best moisturisers for dry skin and speaking to industry exerts. And turns out, there’s plenty to consider when shopping for the right formula. What texture is best? What are the good ingredients to look out for – and what are the bad ones too? Suddenly, the straightforward task of applying moisturiser just got a little more complicated.
It’s also important to know that the ‘more is more’ approach is not necessarily best when applying moisturiser. While this may feel great on thirsty skin, it’s all about the type of cream you use, rather than the amount you apply.
So, where to start when finding the best face cream for your poor dry skin? Here, see the most effective hydrating formulas that have a place in our bathroom cupboard, and shop for your winner. And keep scrolling as we speak with dermatologist Dr Cristina Psomadakis (Soma), who answers the FAQs on moisturisers for dry skin
How we tested the best moisturisers for dry skin
When it comes to Cosmo’s thoughtfully curated moisturiser recommendations, we considered ingredients, product specs and, most importantly, our own experience with each and every one.
Some of these product suggestions have been favourites of mine for years, others have earned my seal of approval in recent months and some are long-loved heroes that the rest of the Cosmo clan can’t get enough of.
With so many moisturisers on the market, this list focuses on moisturisers that have helped to soothe and keep dry skin at bay. The price point varies between each product but whether you're looking for a budget-friendly suggestion or fancy a bit of a splurge, we've included moisturisers for all price points.
Pros
- It's an intensely rich formula that nourishes and hydrates
- It can be used under makeup
- The cream can be used on face, elbows, hands and feet
Cons
- It has a strong botanical-like scent that some may not like
Ah, the mighty Weleda Skin Food. This humble high-street player may cost £16 but it has remained a favourite amongst celebrities and makeup artists for years – not to mention the many awards it has won.
What makes it so special? It's a multi-functional, satisfyingly rich treatment that makes the perfect base for makeup, thanks to its glowy sheen, but it also deeply hydrates the skin, lips and cuticles. It'll be the hardest working product in your makeup bag.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Rich |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients: | Sweet almond oil and sunflower seed oil, lanolin and chamomile |
The Sephora Collection’s Hydrate Balmy Rich Cream is here to lock in moisture and strengthen the skin barrier, proving you don’t need to spend a fortune to quench your permanently thirsty skin. Not only will your complexion receive instant relief thanks to its soft, skin-comforting texture, but the cream’s ingredients work overtime to ensure your barrier stays strong, supple and less prone to tight, flaky flare-ups – all while only costing £17.99.
How’s it done? It’s down to nourishing ceramides, which support the skin’s moisture barrier function, helping to prevent water loss, protect against irritants and promote a plump, hydrated complexion.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Rich |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Ceramides |
The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturiser
Pros
- Strengthens and supports the skin barrier
- It's fragrance free
- It's affordable
Cons
- It can pill if used with too many other skincare ingredients
We've gotten through more pots of this wonder moisturiser than we can count. Not only does the formula tackle visible signs of skin ageing, but it offers a rich boost of hydration.
Better still, if you love a product that offers a glow, you won't want to miss out on this one as it unveils a natural-looking radiance after every use.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Rich |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Ceramides |
Pros
- It contains brilliant ingredients for skin barrier support
- It's rich enough for dry and sensitive skin
Cons
- The tub is a little bulky for travel
If you have seriously dry skin – we’re talking dehydrated, flaking and sore – Curèl is the Japanese skincare brand that has your back. All the products in its Intensive Moisture Care range are saviours for sensitive skin, but this rich cream truly doubles down on hydration.
It’s packed with ceramides, the ideal ingredient to strengthen and lock moisture into your skin barrier, so even after one use you’ll notice how it quickly calms areas of sensitivity or soreness. And while the texture feels thick when you first scoop it out of the tub, it quickly sinks in leaving a radiant glow.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Rich |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Ceramides |
Pros
- It has a lightweight and soothing gel-like texture
- It strengthens the skin barrier
- A great choice for those with sensitive or dry acne-prone skin
Cons
- It may not be nourishing enough for those with very dry complexions
Relief by name, relief by nature, this cream from Dr Althea will be your new BFF as we head into dry-skin season. The lightweight cream contains niacinamide, panthenol (a skin softener) and opuntia ficus-indica stem extract (an antioxidant) to nourish and hydrate while also protecting your skin against free radicals – things like pollution.
We’re also obsessed with the gel-like texture which adds a layer of hydration without feeling too rich. It’s not as deeply nourishing as others in this edit, so one to lean on if you have dehydrated oily skin or combination skin.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Lightweight gel |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Niacinamide, panthenol and opuntia ficus-indica stem extract |
Pros
- It helps to repair barrier damage thanks to ceramides
- The formula is very gentle and fragrance free
- It offers long-lasting hydration
Cons
- Some may find the finish a little oily
If you’ve taken things too far with retinol and you’ve compromised your skin barrier because of it, pick up a tube of the Aestura Atobarrier Cream.
Packed with ceramides, this does a stellar job at restoring your skin back to a plump and hydrated state – and it doesn’t feel too rich making it a great day-time cream. Stay loyal to it and even after a few uses you will notice dry patches fade and a healthy glow will appear.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Rich yet lightweight |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Ceramides |
Pros
- Supports the barrier function
- The hydrating cream instantly sinks into the skin
- It's fragrance free
Cons
- It's relatively expensive
Medik8's Advanced Night Restore cream is a tried-and-tested fave amongst the Cosmo gang.
It may tip towards the pricey side, but the results are worth every penny; the ceramide-packed formula helps to restore the skin's barrier while keeping it hydrated and radiant.
Plus, if you're a stan of the brand's cult Crystal Retinal, this makes the perfect counterpart, reducing any potential irritation from the vitamin A.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Rich yet lightweight |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Ceramides, peptides, saskatoon berry, dragon fruit extract |
Pros
- It can be used as both a moisturiser and toner
- It feels light and refreshing on the skin
- It absorbs quickly
Cons
- Not suitable for very dry skin
So technically not a moisturiser – it's more of a toner/moisturiser hybrid – Laneige's Cream Skin is exactly what you need if you're after juicy, mega-hydrated skin.
The fluid, which is a fave of Kate Hudson's btw, can be used as the last step in your skincare routine or as a primer before your makeup.
Ceramides and peptides melt in to provide insane hydration and barrier support while delivering a plump and radiant finish. Simply splash the liquid into your palms and pat across the skin.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Hydrating fluid |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Ceramides and peptides |
Pros
- It feels rich and nourishing, but quickly sinks in feeling completely weightless
- It helps moisturise, brighten and support the skin barrier
- The airless balloon system uses 99.9% of the product
- It's dermatologically-tested and fragrance-free
Cons
- It's not available to shop at major retailers
NecessaryGood is reinventing the wheel when it comes to skincare packaging. The formula is held within an airless balloon system which pushes the product up so you use 99.9% of it – now that’s bang for your buck.
And trust us, you won’t want any of this moisturiser to go to waste as it is packed with vitamin C, multiple weights of hyaluronic acid and ceramides to brighten and hydrate the skin barrier.
That’s not all, there’s also niacinamide to reduce redness while tomato extract and kakadu plum provide antioxidant defence. This moisturiser really covers all bases, so use it twice daily and you’ll notice a transformation after just a few weeks.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Rich yet lightweight |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C |
Pros
- It has a unique, bouncy texture
- Skin feels soft and hydrated after use
- Packed with nourishing, skin-calming ingredients
Cons
- It’s best used as an evening moisturiser, as some may find it too thick to use before makeup
I want everyone to experience this moisturiser; not just for the satisfying pudding-like texture, but for the nourishing, hydrating and skin-calming properties. Loaded with Matcha PDRN (concentration: 10,000 ppm), heartleaf and 13 peptide complexes, it does a stellar job at soothing irritation while keeping your complexion feeling plump, juicy and moisturised.
The bouncy texture (it kind of reminds me of a crème brûlée – in a good way) may be thick to begin with, but it easily melts into my skin without any stickiness. By far, this is my favourite step in my routine RN.
Features at a Glance
| Texture: | Bouncy pudding |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | 10,000 ppm Matcha-PDRN, vegan collagen, 13 peptides |
Pros
- It feels refreshing and hydrating
- It‘s fairly affordable
- A small amount goes a long way
Cons
- Can leave a slightly sticky feeling
Even if you’ve never come across Medicube before, I can guarantee you would scrolled past it on your TikTok feed. The K-Beauty brand is home to some of the most interesting and innovative formulas in the skincare space – which can be said for this moisturiser in particular.
The texture is unlike anything you’ve tried before. On first glance, it looks like bright-pink jelly. But once massaged into the skin, it instantly absorbs leaving behind a hydrated, dewy sheen – all thanks to a trifecta of firming and conditioning ingredients. Skin feels moisturised and it looks radiant too.
Features at a Glance
| Texture: | Jelly |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Hydrolysed nano collagen, niacinamide and squalane |
Pros
- It's instantly nourishing and provides a hydrating, glossy layer on the skin
- It has a rich texture but is quickly absorbed, leaving behind no residue
- It strengthens the skin barrier
Cons
- Just can we get a bigger jar please?
Haruharu Wonder is one of our favourite K-Beauty skincare brands right now, and it’s especially brilliant for those with dry, sensitive skin. Like many of its products, this moisturiser is formulated with fermented black rice extract which deeply nourishes the skin, while ceramides keep the all-important skin barrier hydrated and strong. As we know, a strong barrier equates to reduced sensitivity, increased hydration and fewer breakouts. The texture is dreamy too; creamy, cushiony and absorbs quickly.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Rich cream |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients: | Black rice extract and ceramides |
Pros
- It's formulated with ceramides to support the skin barrier
- It's fragrance free
- It quickly absorbs and can be layered on top of other skincare products
Cons
- The packaging has zero shelf appeal
For less than the price of your Friday night takeaway, this high-street moisturiser will deliver enough hydration to soothe even the driest complexions.
It’s packed with barrier-supporting ceramides and moisture-binding hyaluronic acid, and is totally fragrance free. It might not be sexy, but it sure delivers results.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Rich |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Ceramides and hyaluronic acid |
Pros
- It can be used as a multi-purpose cream
- It layers well under makeup
- It's affordable
- It keeps the skin plump and hydrated
Cons
- Some may not like the subtle scent
Approved by celebs (like Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande), this cream is an industry secret used by MUAs for decades.
Seriously, this multitasker can be used as a primer, face cream and makeup remover. The super creamy formula nourishes dry skin and gives a healthy radiant glow. So, makes sense it has over 12,000 5* reviews on Amazon.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Rich but creamy |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Fatty acids and vitamins |
Pros
- It equally hydrates and strengthens the skin barrier
- It's lightweight and easily absorbed
- It lends a glossy glow to the skin
Cons
- It's expensive
Once again, La Roche-Posay delivers. The Hyalu B5 Suractivated Cream combines three molecules of hyaluronic acid with vitamin B5 and ectoin to create the ultimate hydrating hero – and the perfect option to bring into the winter. Not only does it help to restore lost moisture (which is common this time of year) but it also works to strengthen the skin barrier to prevent moisture from escaping in the first place.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Lightweight |
|---|---|
| Key ingredients: | Hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5 and ectoin |
Pros
- Formulated to strengthen the skin barrier
- It offers effective and long-lasting hydration
- It sits nicely under makeup
Cons
- Difficult to tell how much product is left
Barrier isn't just a buzzword, especially to Byoma. The Barrier+ Repair Treatment was created to counteract damage (read: dryness and sensitivity) caused by potent actives or retinoid use.
The skin barrier (have we said that enough?) is the outermost layer of the skin, designed to protect the deeper layers from pollution or environmental damage. When this layer becomes compromised – be it through exfoliation, climate or stress – it can open the door to sensitivity.
This rich ointment is loaded with superior restorative ingredients to bring harmony back to a compromised complexion. There's avocado oil to deeply nourish on the surface, while ectoin and squalane provide hydration that lasts the day.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Lightweight cream |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Avocado oil, shea butter, ectoin and squalane |
The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + PhytoCeramides
Pros
- It's packed with ingredients to support and strengthen the skin barrier
- It hydrates at the surface and the deeper layers of the skin
- It's a budget option
Cons
- It's a very functional product. Those after a sensorial experience may want something different
Make ceramides your BFF if you’re dealing with chronic dryness. They’re a form of fatty acid, which can naturally be found in the skin, to keep your skin barrier strong and moisture levels in check.
The Ordinary’s Natural Moisturising Factors and PhytoCeramides is packed full with ceramides to instantly soothe dry, rough spots while hyaluronic acid delivers deep hydration to the lower layers of the skin to ensure all-day moisture.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Rich cream |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycosphingolipids, fatty acids. |
Pros
- It's packed with HA to boost hydration
- The non-comedogenic formula won't clog pores
- It's affordable
- Some may love the refreshing gel texture
Cons
- Some may not like the light fragrance
Neutrogena's Hydro Boost gel is a bit of a high-street classic: it's got a very lightweight consistency, feels refreshing on irritation or redness, and does a stellar job at hydrating, plumping and nourishing the skin.
It feels incredibly luxe, but won't make a high-end dent to your bank balance.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Lightweight gel |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Hyaluronic acid |
Pros
- The texture feels light and refreshing to use
- Aloe water helps to hydrate and plump the skin
- A small amount goes a long way
Cons
- Those with very dry skin may need a richer cream
When it comes to beauty hall of fame products, Clinique's Moisture Surge would definitely make our edit. It's the moisturiser we'd recommend to everyone because there's simply nothing not to like about it – and for extra-dry skin, the Intense 72H version is a must-try.
This has the same lightweight consistency as the original Moisture Surge you know and love, but with the addition of lipids to restore and protect your all-important skin barrier.
Key Specifications:
| Texture: | Lightweight gel |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients: | Aloe bio-ferment, hyaluronic acid |
Clare Stephenson is the Senior Fashion and Beauty E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, creating matter-of-fact reviews and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need – whether that’s a glow-giving foundation, a high-tech LED face mask or the perfect wear-with-everything blazer.
Alongside writing, Clare loves to be in front of the camera creating shopping content, putting viral products to the test to see which ones are truly worth the hype. Through her work, she has interviewed leading dermatologists, makeup artists and industry experts to bring readers trusted advice and product recommendations.
Clare has contributed to titles across the Hearst UK portfolio, including Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima. Prior to joining Hearst, she earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on magazines and editorial. She later worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events including Fashion Week and interviewing notable brand founders.
Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling through London’s Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or heading to a Pilates class.
Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.
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